No water, or water coming out of the ground: a service line emergency
A broken service line can mean a pressure drop, a flooded yard strip, or no water at all. If water is surfacing near the meter box, our 24/7 line is answered around the clock. Close the house shutoff valve, then check whether the meter still moves with every fixture off.
Keep children and pets away from standing water in the yard, and stay clear of outdoor outlets and wet cords. Note where the water appears, and photograph it. Call us with that detail, because it helps us plan the dig before we arrive.
Signs the line to the house is leaking
The service line is buried, so the evidence is usually indirect. These are the signs people describe most often.
Meter keeps spinning
People often shut everything off and still see the meter dial or leak indicator move. That points to a leak between the meter and the fixtures.
A wet strip in the yard
A line of soggy or unusually green grass, or a small swampy patch near the meter box, can mark a pinhole or failed joint in the buried line.
Low pressure
A gradual drop in pressure at every tap in the house is a common symptom. A single fixture with weak flow is a different problem.
A high water bill
A bill that jumps with no change in habits is worth chasing. A running toilet is the first check, then the meter test.
If you cannot tell where the water is going, our leak detection page covers how we trace hidden leaks without opening ground blindly.
Who owns what at the meter
In general terms, the utility handles the pipe up to its meter, and the property owner is responsible for the line from there to the house. The exact point varies by utility and sometimes by situation. Ask PBCWUD about where its responsibility ends for your address.
That question matters because it decides who pays for a leak on either side of the meter. If the leak is on the utility's side, a plumber digging there can create a problem. If the leak is on your side, the repair is yours, and we can help. A call to the utility settles it.
Water is surfacing in the yard?
Tell us where it appears and whether the meter is moving. We will plan the next step.
Repair or replace the service line
Sometimes one fix is enough, and sometimes the whole run is near the end of its life. The table lays out how we think about it.
| Situation | Repair a section | Replace the whole run |
|---|---|---|
| One pinhole or failed fitting. | Usually enough if the rest of the pipe is sound. | Rarely needed. |
| Several leaks along the line. | Fixing one often reveals the next. | Often the better choice. |
| Old galvanized or corroded pipe. | A patch may not hold for long. | Strong case for replacement. |
| Possible lead pipe. | Not a good place to patch. | Ask about replacing it, and test the water. |
| Pipe damaged by a dig or utility work. | Fix the damaged section. | Only if the rest is weak. |
| Line runs under driveway or slab. | Consider the cost of access. | May justify a different route or method. |
Trench or trenchless
The classic method opens a trench from the meter to the house, removes the old pipe and lays new pipe. It is direct and lets us see the soil and fittings. The cost is the yard: lawn, plants, sprinkler lines and sometimes a driveway edge.
Trenchless methods pull or push new pipe through the ground from small access pits, leaving more of the surface intact. They are not possible everywhere, because obstacles such as tree roots, existing utilities and tight bends limit the route. We walk the line with you and explain which fits your yard.
Boil water notices and main breaks
Sometimes a water problem is not on your property at all. In March 2024, a contractor struck a PBCWUD water main on the south side of Lake Worth Road near Charleston Street, west of Jog Road, and boil water notices went out to affected households.
If you receive a notice, follow the utility's instructions on boiling water before you drink it. A notice on your street is not proof that your own service line is at fault, so check the meter test first. If pressure drops and no notice has gone out, call the utility and then us.
What affects the price of service line work
No two service lines are alike, so we avoid quoting a number without seeing it. These factors move the price most.
What insurance may and may not cover
Many homeowner policies treat a sudden break differently from a slow leak, and some exclude the buried line unless you added coverage. Call your insurer, read the policy, and document the damage with photos.
We set a clear price before work starts. For your real number, describe what you have seen when you call. Related work, such as a burst pipe repair inside the house, can be planned together.
Where the code and the utility meet
Work on the line from the meter to the house falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which Florida builds on the International Plumbing Code (IPC), which is based on the IPC. The meter itself belongs to the water utility.
Ask the utility where its responsibility ends before you dig. For permit questions, ask the City of Greenacres building department.
Water service line questions
Yes. Our line is answered around the clock, and we offer same-day appointments when available. Close the house shutoff, note where water is surfacing, and call.
Turn off every fixture and appliance, then watch the meter's leak indicator or dial. If it moves, water is going somewhere. Compare that with the house shutoff closed to see which side holds the leak.
In general terms, the utility handles its side and the owner handles the line to the house. Ask PBCWUD where its responsibility ends for your address, since we cannot state that boundary.
Sometimes. A spot repair needs only a small dig, and trenchless methods can replace a run with small access pits. The route and soil decide.
Follow the utility's notice. After a break on Lake Worth Road in March 2024, boil water notices were issued for affected households, which is an example of how this works.
Tell us when you call, and we can look at the material at the meter. Ask the utility about testing, and consider replacing any lead run rather than patching it.